SA Gov suspends mask wearing
Previous Covid-19 regulations, including the wearing of face masks, have been suspended
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FOR the past two years, wearing face masks has been a mandatory requirement for most South Africans to go to work, to go shopping, to enter any business premises or to travel. However, following South Africa’s Health Minister Joe Phaahla’s latest amendments in the Government Gazette yesterday evening, previous Covid-19 regulations, including the wearing of face masks, have been suspended.
In his statement, Phaahla said that the restrictions are to be dropped following a decline in hospitalisations and reported Covid-19 cases.
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“There is a decline in the number of reported cases. There is a decline in hospitalisations. There is a decline in the effective reproductive rate of the virus (less than 0,7%). There is a decline in the positivity rate, though the number of tests done is also low. And there is also a decline in the reported deaths,” said Phaahla.
As of Wednesday, June 22, South Africans are no longer required to wear masks indoors in public settings.
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Phaahla and Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, are set to brief the nation at 11:00 on Thursday.
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